'Probe into student's murder in US'

Jamshedpur, Jan 27: Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto today said that the US and Central government should undertake a thorough probe into the murder of Indian student Abhijit Mahato in Durham on Januray 18.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Mahto was sceptical about the reports that Abhijit was shot dead by some miscreants at his apartment for money. He also alleged that it was a conspiracy to oust the brilliant Indian student of Duke University. ''A proper investigation will reveal the reasons behind the mysterious killing,'' Mr Mahto said terming the Abhijit's death as a loss of the nation.

''He was a brilliant student and could have contributed to the country's development,'' the Dy chief minister lamented.

Mr Mahto also informed that the management and students of the University have reacted sharply to the untimely loss of a budding talent thus demanding a probe into the murder.

Incidentally, Abhijit, who was doing his PhD in Computer Science, had submitted his thesis one day before the tragic incident.

Abhijit's body was flown to his ancestral village Gamharia, near here, from US with the help of Indian Embassy and External Affairs Ministry yesterday.

Several dignitaries, including political leaders from different political parties and goverment officials, were present at the funeral rites of Abhijit .

Meanwhile, acting on a tip-off, the US police had arrested four persons including a teenage shooter in connection with the incident.